Outside North America, Europe is by far the biggest basketball hotbed in the world, as shown by the large contingent of players from the Old Continent in the NBA over the last three decades.
When we put together our list of the 80 greatest international players ever, more than half of those who made the cut were Europeans.
Here’s how we ranked them:
1. Dirk Nowitzki (Germany)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, one MVP, 12 All-NBA selections, 14 All-Stars, one World Cup bronze medal, one Eurobasket silver medal
Regular season ranking: 7th in scoring, 28th in rebounds, 56th in blocks, 98th in steals, 165th in assists
Playoffs ranking: 18th in scoring, 24th in rebounds, 55th in blocks, 57th in steals, 107th in assists
One of the finest offensive forwards in basketball
history, Dirk Nowitzki is also considered the top European player of all time (for now). Nowitzki didn’t just carry those Mavs teams to multiple deep playoff runs and ultimately a championship; he did so without star companions.
Nowitzki did similarly with Germany, winning a couple of medals with teams pretty much devoid of top-notch talent. Dirk's shooting ability from all angles and ranges, off the dribble or with his feet set, was truly unmatched, especially among 7-footers.
2. Nikola Jokic (Serbia)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, three MVPs, one Conference Finals MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, eight All-Stars, one Olympic silver medal, one Olympic bronze medal
Regular season ranking: 41st in assists, 61st in rebounds, 84th in scoring, 170th in steals, 240th in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 31st in assists, 37th in rebounds, 42nd in scoring, 83rd in steals, 101st in blocks
If he keeps the pace he’s on, Nikola Jokic is eventually going to be No. 1 on this list. You can even make an argument that his peak – if Jokic has even peaked yet – is at least as good as anybody else’s on this list. Actually, we have him as the player with the seventh-best peak in league history ahead of several GOAT candidates.
A team can build an elite NBA offense around Jokic thanks to his super passing and scoring skills. The first international player to win three MVP awards and the first center to do so since Moses Malone, Jokic should age well, considering his game doesn’t rely at all on athleticism or explosiveness.
3. Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Finals MVP, two MVPs, seven All-NBA 1st Team selections, 10 All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, four All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one NBA Cup, one NBA Cup MVP, one Eurobasket bronze medal
Regular season ranking: 42nd in scoring, 63rd in rebounds, 90th in blocks, 96th in assists, 189th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 52nd in scoring and rebounds, 68th in blocks, 78th in assists, 158th in steals
Third on our list already at age 31, there’s a somewhat decent chance Giannis Antetokounmpo may end up being considered the top foreign NBA talent when all is said and done – no small feat for a player who didn’t even have Greek citizenship growing up. Antetokounmpo makes up for his lone shortcoming – his shooting – with unreal length, motor, tenacity and scoring down low. He’s legitimately unstoppable once he gets in the paint.
4. Pau Gasol (Spain)
Top accolades: Two NBA titles, four All-NBA selections, six All-Stars, two silver Olympic medals, one World Cup gold medal, three Eurobasket gold medals
Regular season ranking: 22nd in blocks, 30th in rebounds, 44th in scoring, 135th in assists, 496th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 16th in blocks, 35th in rebounds, 63rd in scoring, 79th in assists, 209th in steals
Pau Gasol had a terrific NBA career to go with perhaps the best National Team career of any player ever, having won 11 medals and multiple MVPs in summer FIBA tournaments. A two-time NBA champion, some of the analytics actually rated Gasol as the most important Laker on those two title teams. Gasol was extremely skilled for a big man, with length that helped him finish over just about anyone down low and to block shots on the other end.
5. Tony Parker (France)
Top accolades: Four NBA titles, one Finals MVP, three All-NBA 2nd Team selections, six All-Stars, one Eurobasket gold medal
Regular season ranking: 21st in assists, 58th in scoring, 160th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 7th in assists, 12th in scoring, 34th in steals, 122nd in rebounds, 489th in blocks
A super quick point guard with elite change-of-direction skills, French legend Tony Parker made a living getting into the paint and finishing among the trees because of his unstoppable teardrop floater. Didn’t have much range as a shooter and wasn’t an elite defender by any stretch, but he’s an all-time great guard anyway, which speaks to just how solid he was at lead guard, no easy accomplishment for guys out of Europe.
6. Luka Doncic (Slovenia)
Top accolades: One Western Conference Finals MVP, six All-NBA 1st Team selections, six All-Star selections, Rookie of the Year award, one Eurobasket gold medal, Euroleague title, one Euroleague MVP
Regular season ranking: 111th in assists, 165th in scoring, 362nd in rebounds, 437th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 82nd in assists, 99th in scoring, 143rd in steals, 207th in rebounds, 373rd in blocks
Put simply, Slovenian guard Luka Doncic is a special talent with a chance to enter GOAT conversations down the road thanks to his unbelievable mix of scoring and playmaking as well as rebounding from the lead-guard spot at his size. The Lakers superstar just won the second scoring title of his career last season, before injuries unfortunately cut his postseason short.
Doncic has already won pretty much everything at the international level. He came close to duplicating that success in the NBA in 2024 with an unexpected run to the Finals with Dallas before falling short in the championship series. Doncic is also already showing he is working on his body and respecting his fitness level, which could mean we see an extended peak for the Real Madrid legend.
7. Rudy Gobert (France)
Top accolades: One All-NBA 2nd Team selection, three All-NBA 3rd Team selections, three All-Stars, four Defensive Player of the Year awards, eight All-Defensive 1st Team selections, two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup bronze medals, two Eurobasket bronze medals
Regular season ranking: 24th in blocks, 36th in rebounds, 332nd in scoring, 459th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 45th in blocks, 54th in rebounds, 216th in scoring, 206th in steals, 459th in assists
Rudy Gobert’s combination of length, mobility and smarts makes him one of the most devastating defensive players in NBA history. Without much of an offensive game, Gobert can still do a lot of damage on that end on screen-and-rolls and finishing lobs.
Despite a great NBA career, he has many doubters mostly because of perceived shortcomings in the playoffs. His benching with France during key moments of the 2024 Olympic basketball tournament surely didn’t help his reputation either. But there’s one thing clear: his teams win (even if they have not gone all the way yet).
8. Marc Gasol (Spain)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 1st Team selection, three All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, one All-Defensive 2nd Team selection, two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup gold medals, five Eurobasket medals
Regular season ranking: 61st in blocks, 153rd in rebounds, 248th in assists, 265th in scoring, 313th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 45th in blocks, 90th in rebounds, 129th in assists, 161st in steals, 173rd in scoring
The leader of various fine Grizzlies teams, big man Marc Gasol eventually became a champion anchoring the defense of the Toronto Raptors while contributing plenty as a playmaker and floor spacer. Gasol was also a key component of very successful Spanish squads in FIBA tournaments, winning two World Cup gold medals. A one-time Defensive Player of the year, Gasol was a truly unique two-way threat in his prime and one of the better big men of his generation.
9. Drazen Petrovic (Croatia)
Top accolades: One All-NBA 3rd Team selection, two Olympic medals, one World Cup gold medal, one Eurobasket gold medal, one World Cup MVP award, one Eurobasket MVP award, two Euroleague titles
Quite possibly the best European player in the 20th century thanks to amazing shooting prowess and will to win, Drazen Petrovic was the first Euro player to make an All-NBA Team and to this day just one of a handful to do it so as a guard. Petrovic did not bring much to the table aside from scoring, but as a pull-up shooter, he was ahead of his time. His tragic car accident robbed us of a great player way too early, and he’d likely be higher here had he been able to have a long career. Petrovic remains absolutely iconic overseas to this day.
10. Predrag Stojakovic (Serbia)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-NBA 2nd Team, three All-Stars, one World Cup gold medal, one Eurobasket gold medal, one Eurobasket MVP
Regular season ranking: 213th in scoring, 356th in steals, 457th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 162nd in scoring, 184th in steals, 220th in rebounds
Generally remembered as the second wheel on those fun Chris Webber-led Sacramento King teams of the early 2000s, Predrag Stojakovic was among the best shooters in the NBA during his time. He had phenomenal size for a small forward and a jumper that would so often hit nothing but net. Stojakovic led the league in free-throw shooting accuracy twice and shot over 40 percent from three for his career.
11. Arvydas Sabonis (Lithuania)
Top accolades: One Olympic gold medal, one World Cup gold medal, four Eurobasket medals, one Eurobasket MVP award, one Euroleague title, one Euroleague MVP award, one Euroleague Final Four MVP award
Regular season ranking: 297th in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 201st in blocks, 284th in rebounds, 349th in steals, 421st in scoring
A do-it-all giant, Arvydas Sabonis was one of the game’s first unicorns. Unfortunately, his super-dominant time in Europe that is so often glossed over didn’t last very long. He was very limited physically by age 24 due to major leg injuries, and it was around that time when he signed with an average Valladolid squad in Spain’s first division. Despite physical limitations, he still managed a sensational career in FIBA basketball and eventually enjoyed seven solid seasons as a center for the Trail Blazers.Sabonis will always be known as one of the biggest what-ifs in basketball, although major injury problems for players of his size are hardly uncommon. He displayed magnificent vision of the court and outside shooting when centers were not really doing those things. It was a joy to watch.
12. Detlef Schrempf (Germany)
Top accolades: One All-NBA 3rd Team, three All-Stars, two Sixth Man of the Year awards
Regular season ranking: 122nd in rebounds, 138th in scoring, 146th in assists, 273rd in steals
Playoffs ranking: 150th in assists, 151st in scoring, 165th in rebounds, 253rd in steals, 364th in blocks
Known by this generation for his cameo appearances on Parks and Rec, Detlef Schrempf was far from a slouch during his time in the Association, making one All-NBA team and three All-Star appearances in his heyday thanks to his outside shooting touch and fantastic size for a forward at 6-foot-10.
13. Vlade Divac (Serbia)
Top accolades: One All-Star, one Olympic gold medal, two World Cup gold medals, three Eurobasket gold medals
Regular season ranking: 33rd in blocks, 54th in rebounds, 80th in steals, 177th in assists, 225th in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 30th in blocks, 68th in rebounds, 93rd in steals, 139th in scoring, 157th in assists
Best known for his time with the Kings, Vlade Divac was a charismatic figure in the game for many years. Divac was perhaps the best passing center in the game during his time in the league, and though he didn’t really work on his body a lot, he still had a phenomenal career both in the league and FIBA competitions with Yugoslavia.
14. Toni Kukoc (Croatia)
Top accolades: Three NBA titles, one Sixth Man of the Year award, two Olympic silver medals, one World Championship gold medal, two Eurobasket gold medals, one World Championship MVP award, one Eurobasket MVP award, three Euroleague titles, three Euroleague Final Four MVP awards
Regular season ranking: 224th in assists, 298th in steals, 432nd in scoring, 496th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 127th in steals, 135th in assists, 235th in scoring, 279th in rebounds, 331st in blocks
Toni Kukoc was a terrific all-around player, so crafty and smooth with the ball in his hands yet tenacious when he needed to be. Kukoc played a big role in three championship teams for the Bulls, though things didn’t go so well when he was tasked with being the No. 1 guy post-Last Dance. You don’t often see winning runs like the one he had between 1989 and 1998.
15. Nikola Vucevic (Montenegro)
Top accolades: Two All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 35th in rebounds, 93rd in scoring, 133rd in blocks, 241st in assists, 269th in steals
A highly skilled center who can pull down double-doubles in his sleep, Nikola Vucevic is very difficult to defend because he can do so many things with the basketball. Vucevic can shoot, pass and post up, and you don’t want to foul him because of his shooting touch from the foul stripe. He just struggles to man the paint defensively, leading to his lack of team success in the NBA to this point in his career.
16. Domantas Sabonis (Lithuania)
Top accolades: Three All-Stars, two All-NBA 3rd Team selections
Regular season ranking: 118th in rebounds, 206th in assists, 375th in scoring
A southpaw big man with playmaking, rebounding and scoring chops down low, Domantas Sabonis developed into a very well-rounded, All-Star-level big man, already posting a more impressive NBA career than his father did. Sabonis only just turned 30, too, so we expect him to get past his injury troubles in 2025-26 to get back to his All-Star level, and perhaps continue moving up these rankings over the coming years.
17. Joakim Noah (France)
Top accolades: One All-NBA 1st Team selection, two All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, two All-Defensive 1st Team selections, one Eurobasket silver medal
Regular season ranking: 137th in blocks, 191st in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 73rd in blocks, 128th in rebounds, 271st in steals, 322nd in assists, 447th in scoring
One of the most energetic players ever, Joakim Noah was considered one of the best centers in the league at his peak. Even though his jumper didn’t have much range on it, Noah was still quite skilled thanks to his ball-handling and playmaking out of the high post/short midrange areas. Also an elite defender in his prime mostly thanks to effort and instincts.
18. Andrei Kirilenko (Russia)
Top accolades: One All-Star, three All-Defensive Team selections, one Olympic bronze medal, one Eurobasket, gold medal, one Eurobasket MVP award, one Euroleague MVP award
Regular season ranking: 43rd in blocks, 137th in steals, 365th in rebounds, 426th in assists, 450th in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 100th in blocks, 234th in steals
Long and athletic, the Russian forward was adept at filling the stat sheet from top to bottom. Andre Kirilenko was a Swiss Army knife on both ends of the floor, capable of filling multiple roles, though he particularly shone defensively thanks to his fantastic instincts, quick feet and great length. He would have fit perfectly in the modern game but he was a very effective player in his heyday.
19. Rik Smits (Netherlands)
Top accolades: One All-Star
Regular season ranking: 81st in blocks, 242nd in scoring, 256th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 95th in blocks, 127th in scoring, 180th in rebounds, 316th in steals, 413th in assists
A skilled but lean big man with fantastic size at 7-foot-4, Rik Smits had soft touch around the basket that helped him knock down turnaround jumpers with aplomb. He did struggle some as a rebounder, though, due to his slender frame.
20. Goran Dragic (Slovenia)
Top accolades: One All-NBA 3rd Team selection, one All-Star, one Most Improved Player award, one Eurobasket gold medal, one Eurobasket MVP award
Regular season ranking: 100th in assists, 257th in steals, 262nd in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 247th in assists, 297th in scoring, 434th in steals
A point guard with a lot of tenacity and energy on offense, Slovenian legend Goran Dragic could often create a fast break out of nothing. He was also an adept half-court scorer who could use screens to get to the basket, where he was one of the best finishers in the paint thanks to his iron-clad shoulders. Dragic was also a fine outside shooter, making him the whole package offensively.
21. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Lithuania)
Top accolades: Two All-Stars
Regular season ranking: 53rd in blocks, 180th in rebounds, 353rd in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 103rd in blocks, 173rd in rebounds, 315th in scoring
Zydrunas Ilgauskas was a unique big man thanks to his size and slender frame, but he was productive and effective in his role as a floor-spacing center who could block some shots on the defensive end. Truly one of a kind but a very effective player in his prime.
22. Ricky Rubio (Spain)
Top accolades: Two Olympic medals, one World Cup gold medal, two Eurobasket gold medals, one World Cup MVP award, one Euroleague title
Regular season ranking: 71st in assists, 93rd in steals
Although he may not have fully lived up to the hype created by his legendary Euro YouTube highlight videos before getting to the NBA, Ricky Rubio still enjoyed a fantastic NBA as well as international career thanks to his wizardry as a passer and solid ball-handling.
23. Kristaps Porzingis (Latvia)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-Star
Regular season ranking: 113th in blocks, 396th in scoring, 414th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 344th in blocks
A shot-blocking, three-point shooting big man in a freakish 7-foot-3 package, Kristaps Porzingis appeared headed to a perennial All-Star career until injuries began to affect him. While full-blown NBA stardom may be behind him, he has shown over the past few seasons that he can be a high-level role player in that ‘good starter’ NBA tier.
24. Dino Radja (Croatia)
Top accolades: Two Olympic silver medals, one World Championship bronze medal, two Eurobasket gold medals, two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP
Dino Radja formed a beyond-dominant duo in Europe along with Kukoc on legendary Jugosplastika Split teams. One of the few bright spots for the lowly 90’s Celtics, Radja averaged nearly 20 points nightly in his third NBA season before returning to Europe a couple of seasons later to finish out his career.
25. Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
Top accolades: One Euroleague Rising Star award, one Italian League MVP
Regular season ranking: 317th in scoring, 487th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 383rd in scoring, 494th in rebounds
A sharpshooting wing with great size, Danilo Gallinari could do more than just shoot from beyond the arc with his feet set, as he had an underrated face-up and post-up game… though his defense left a bit to be desired. One of the better European wings in NBA history, especially when you factor in when he arrived in America, before the more recent Euro hooper boon.
26. Nicolas Batum (France)
Top accolades: Two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup bronze medals, one Eurobasket gold medal
Regular season ranking: 152nd in steals, 168th in assists, 184th in blocks, 225th in rebounds, 320th in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 235th in blocks, 267th in steals, 314th in rebounds, 316th in assists, 393rd in scoring
A beyond serviceable role player throughout his entire career, Nicolas Batum was one of the original 3-and-D swingmen that became so popular in the 2010s, capable of locking down multiple positions on one end and knocking down open threes on the other. Underrated playmaker, too. Beyond the NBA, Batum played a zillion FIBA tournaments with France and won seven medals with his National Team… though just one gold, with many heartbreaking losses to Spain and Team USA.
27. Dennis Schroeder (Germany)
Top accolades: One World Cup gold medal, one World Cup MVP, one Eurobasket gold medal, one Eurobasket MVP
Regular season ranking: 98th in assists, 267th in scoring, 355th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 137th in assists, 253rd in steals, 259th in scoring
Dennis Schroeder is already one of the best international point guards ever, thanks to his confident scoring prowess out of the backcourt. He may be a bit inconsistent, but overall, he’s been a positive-impact player on the floor. For a player with his accomplishments, Schroeder has taken much unnecessary vitriol throughout his career. He has the last laugh for now, though, after leading Germany to World Cup and Eurobasket titles (and winning MVP of the tournament each time). Fun fact: Schroeder is the first international player to play for 10 different NBA teams.
List of players with Eurobasket and World Cup MVPs:
— HoopsHype (@hoopshype) September 14, 2025
Sergei Belov
Drazen Dalipagic
Drazen Petrovic
Toni Kukoc
Dirk Nowitzki
Pau Gasol
DENNIS SCHROEDER
The German point guard now pretty much a lock for the Hall of Fame. All the other players in the list have been inducted. pic.twitter.com/qqJfV3bCVe
28. Sarunas Marciulionis (Lithuania)
Top accolades: Three Olympic medals, three Eurobasket medals, one Eurobasket MVP
There’s an ongoing narrative that Euro pioneers didn’t get any confidence from coaches in the NBA, but Sarunas Marciulionis proved that’s wrong by receiving plenty of playing time early on in his NBA career. For a guard, he was super strong, which allowed him to score around the paint regularly.
29. Jonas Valanciunas (Lithuania)
Top accolades: Three Olympic medals, three Eurobasket medals, one Eurobasket MVP
Regular season ranking: 58th in rebounds, 126th in blocks, 243rd in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 150th in rebounds, 201st in blocks, 334th in scoring
Went from role player early on into a solid, above-average starter and back to role player now. At the peak of his powers, the big Lithuanian was a double-double machine with a strong post-game thanks to having boulders for shoulders.
30. Hidayet Turkoglu (Turkey)
Top accolades: One Most Improved Player award, one World Cup silver medal, one Eurobasket silver medal
Regular season ranking: 278th in assists, 349th in scoring, 354th in steals, 427th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 156th in assists, 166th in steals, 237th in scoring, 253rd in rebounds, 303rd in blocks
A supersized swingman who could score, rebound, and pass, Hidayet Turkoglu would likely have been even more effective in today’s era with a heavier three-point diet. Even in his time, though, he remained an underrated small forward.
31. Victor Wembanyama (France)
Top accolades: One Conference Finals MVP, one All-NBA 1st Team selection, two All-Stars, one Defensive Player of the Year award, two All-Defensive 1st Team selections, Rookie of the Year, one Olympic silver medal
Regular season ranking: 223rd in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 116th in blocks, 470th in rebounds
Young phenom Victor Wembanyama made a big jump in this ranking from last year to this year, the biggest of anyone on the list, and yet, it still feels like we’re underselling him, as Wembanyama has the potential to top the list one day, so having him here feels low. Even so, for a 22-year-old to have accomplished so much already indicates the ceiling Wembanyama has thanks to his absurd mobility and skill in a 7-foot-4 package with a monstrous 8-foot wingspan.
Wembanyama now has an Eastern Conference Finals MVP under his belt and is the youngest player to win Defensive Player of the Year. He’s also the first unanimous winner of the award, no small feat considering how some voters in the media love to be contrarians. Wembanyama was so dominant defensively that no one could deny he was the league’s best defensive player, and he reached that level while also putting up a 25/11/3 stat line on the other end on 51.2 percent shooting from the floor. That’s to go with Wembanyama already leading France to a silver medal in the Olympics, too.
32. Mehmet Okur (Turkey)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one All-Star, one Eurobasket silver medal
Regular season ranking: 325th in blocks, 353rd in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 212th in blocks, 253rd in rebounds, 338th in steals, 452nd in scoring
One of the original stretch Euro big men in the NBA, at least one that would willingly bomb away from three, Mehmet Okur was a player ahead of his time. In today’s NBA, he’d fire even more threes up and have a more impressive scoring average. Regardless, Okur enjoyed a solid 10-year NBA career.
33. Dejan Bodiroga (Serbia)
Top accolades: One Olympic silver medal, two World Championship gold medals, three Eurobasket gold medals, three Euroleague titles, one Euroleague MVP, two Euroleague Final Four MVP awards
The most accomplished FIBA player never to give the NBA a try, Dejan Bodiroga was a dominant offensive talent in Europe in his heyday. There are always questions about how well his pretty peculiar game would have adjusted to the NBA, considering his limited athleticism, slow movement skills and high-usage rate. Even so, Bodiroga boasts a spectacular FIBA resume.
34. Jose Manuel Calderon (Spain)
Top accolades: Two Olympic silver medals, one World Championship gold medal, one Eurobasket gold medal
Regular season ranking: 72nd in assists, 387th in steals
Playoffs ranking: 452nd in assists
A floor general in every sense of the term, Jose Manuel Calderon could always be counted upon to run an offense at a solid level. He was usually thinking more about creating for teammates than trying to score himself, which is a bit of a shame since the Spaniard could really shoot the basketball. Calderon hit nearly 41 percent of his threes for his career.
35. Clint Capela (Switzerland)
Top accolades: One-time rebounding champion
Regular season ranking: 103rd in rebounds and blocks
Playoffs ranking: 65th in blocks, 95th in rebounds, 332nd in steals, 347th in scoring
Clint Capela went from a skinny big man with little endurance early in his career into an above-average starter in the league, one who made a high-level impact as a shot-blocker and rebounder. Capela led the NBA in rebounding once in his career.
36. Lauri Markkanen (Finland)
Top accolades: One All-Star, one Most Improved Player award, All-Rookie 1st Team selection
Regular season ranking: 463rd in scoring
A solid player early on in his NBA career, Lauri Markkanen turned into an All-Star from one season to the next, as his outside shooting and face-up scoring abilities exploded with the Jazz. Now, it’ll be about maintaining that level for Markkanen, if not improving on it.
37. Juan Carlos Navarro (Spain)
Top accolades: All-Rookie 2nd Team, three Olympic medals, one World Cup gold medal, two Eurobasket gold medals, one Eurobasket MVP award, two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague MVP award, one Euroleague Final Four MVP award
A pure scorer with his own patented floater (“La Bomba”), Juan Carlos Navarro had a terrific career with FC Barcelona and the Spanish National Team. Still, he only had a cup of coffee with the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. Could probably have been a solid role player in the league for many years, but preferred to be the man for his hometown club.
38. Boris Diaw (France)
Top accolades: One NBA title, one Most Improved Player award, one World Cup bronze medal, one Eurobasket gold medal
Regular season ranking: 162nd in assists, 285th in blocks, 329th in rebounds, 445th in steals, 478th in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 94th in assists, 173rd in blocks, 194th in rebounds, 200th in steals, 222nd in scoring
French forward Boris Diaw was a do-everything forward who could score a bit but also rebound. His most impressive skill, however, was as a playmaker, where he had elite vision as a creator, especially for a man of his size. Had he stayed in better shape, there’s a chance he could have been something more in the Association.
39. OG Anunoby (Great Britain)
Top accolades: Two NBA titles, two All-Defensive 2nd Team selections
Regular season ranking: 360th in steals, 465th in blocks
Playoffs ranking: 137th in blocks, 135th in steals, 232nd in scoring, 299th in rebounds
A top-notch two-way player who was impressively able to improve his scoring skills as his career progressed to become more than just a 3-and-D wing, OG Anunoby, a native of London, cracked this list for the first time ahead of 2025-26, and added to that last season by helping lead the Knicks to a championship, the second of his career.
Anunoby’s contributions to New York's championship run were major, too, as he had the historic game-winning tip-in in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He also earned 2nd Team All-Defense for the second time in his career last season, further adding impressive hardware to his resume.
40. Bojan Bogdanovic (Croatia)
Top accolades: All-Rookie 2nd Team
Regular season ranking: 342nd in scoring
Playoffs ranking: 386th in scoring, 466th in steals
A swingman with great size and a quick shooting touch, Bojan Bogdanovic made a solid career in the NBA by providing instant scoring, first as a reserve but mostly as a starter. Could get hot and take over games with his shooting quickly.
41. Alperen Sengun (Turkey)
Top accolades: Two All-Stars, one Eurobasket silver medal
Regular season ranking: 488th in blocks
Alperen Sengun cracked this ranking for the first time last year and made a small leap this year. The Turkish big man has potential to make an even bigger leap eventually thanks to his excellent post-up game, solid face-up skills, and creative playmaking out of the center position. If Sengun can just improve his outside shooting, he could really start to make some noise and turn into a perennial All-Star, something he’s well on his way to doing, considering he’s coming off back-to-back All-Star honors. Regardless, he’s got All-NBA potential, and we’re waiting to see him get more consistent with his shooting before he reaches that level.
42. Evan Fournier (France)
Top accolades: Two Olympic silver medals, two World Cup bronze medals, two Eurobasket bronze medals, one Euroleague title, one Euroleague Final Four MVP
Regular season ranking: 442nd in scoring, 478th in steals
Evan Fournier may not thrive in any one area on offense, but he’s a reliable three-level scorer who can get hot at a moment’s notice and doubles as a solid playmaker. His defense may not be much to write home about, but he can do some scoring off the dribble with his soft shooting touch.
43. Predrag Danilovic (Serbia)
Top accolades: One Olympic silver medal, four Eurobasket gold medals, two Euroleague titles, one Euroleague Final Four MVP
Predrag Danilovic was an elite scorer in Europe who did a whole lot of winning overseas. Had a lethal shooting touch, which he paired with stingy defensive chops. Did not shy away in big moments.
44. Marcin Gortat (Poland)
Top accolades: One German League title, three German Cup titles
Regular season ranking: 133rd in blocks, 167th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 132nd in blocks, 191st in rebounds, 471st in scoring
Affectionately called the Polish Hammer, Marcin Gortat was a deadly scorer out of the pick-and-roll, particularly later on in his career once he got out from under Dwight Howard’s shadow. Gortat had excellent hands and used his strength well when setting screens and attacking the glass.
45. Nikos Galis (Greece)
Top accolades: One Eurobasket gold medal, one Eurobasket MVP
Nikos Galis became one of the best scorers in FIBA basketball history and put Greece on the basketball map after four years of college basketball at Seton Hall. A solid playmaker and a ferocious competitor, he was also a strong player by Euro standards back in the day, often playing bigger than his actual size.
46. Ivica Zubac (Croatia)
Top accolades: One All-Defensive 2nd Team selection
Regular season ranking: 227th in blocks, 264th in rebounds
Playoffs ranking: 286th in blocks, 277th in rebounds
Throwback big Ivica Zubac is a traditional big man in that he’s not out there launching 30-footers, but backing down opponents and scoring on hook shots and put-backs. Zubac is an effective pick-and-roll big, too, thanks to his strong screen-setting and reliable hands, as well as a good rim-protector and rebounder.
47. Deni Avdija (Israel)
Top accolades: One All-Star
Few players have broken out recently as much as Deni Avdija did last season, becoming an All-Star in the vaunted Western Conference after putting up a 24/6/6 stat line in 2025-26. Was that a fluke, or will Avdija keep up this level for years to come? Or will he be able to improve even more on it?
That will be interesting to find out, but if the Israeli swingman does somehow improve on that level, he could see a fast rise up this list over the years to come, as he’s blossomed into a force driving the basketball in the half-court and transition. Considering Avdija shot just under 32 percent in his breakout season, if he can get his outside shooting in order, it’s entirely possible he does reach an even higher level.
48. Bogdan Bogdanovic (Serbia)
Top accolades: All-Rookie 2nd Team selection, one Olympic silver medal, one Olympic bronze medal, two World Cup silver medals, one Eurobasket silver medal, one Euroleague title
Playoffs ranking: 434th in steals
A confident scorer, especially from the perimeter, Bogdan Bogdanovic can get hot from the outside thanks to his lightning-quick jumper and high release point. He’s not one to avoid taking the big shots on any given night, though his defense has not been that impressive. Bogdanovic was not able to reach his level of European stardom in the NBA, however, so it looks like he’ll be on the fringes of this ranking before eventually falling off entirely one day.
49. Swen Nater (Netherlands)
Top accolades: Two All-ABA 2nd Team selections, two ABA All-Star selections
Regular season ranking: 253rd in rebounds
One of the best players in Clippers’ franchise history until recent years, Swen Nater was a big man with little range but a monster rebounder, leading the NBA and the ABA in nightly rebounds one time apiece. Also a very reliable finisher down low.
50. Vassilis Spanoulis (Greece)
Top accolades: One World Cup silver medal, one Eurobasket gold medal, three Euroleague titles, one Euroleague MVP award, three Euroleague Final Four MVPs
Jeff Van Gundy was no fan of his, as the ball-handling, bombastic shooting guard Vassilis Spanoulis played just 272 minutes in his lone NBA season with the Rockets. But in Europe, he’s an absolute legend and has gone down as one of the most clutch players in FIBA basketball.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: 50 greatest European players ever: The HoopsHype list
